LEAN SIX SIGMA IN HEALTHCARE: SOME SOBERING THOUGHTS ON IMPLEMENTATION

Abstract

Lean Management and Six Sigma (LSS) concepts originated in manufacturing but later it was adopted by service industries including healthcare. This work explores several issues arising while implementing LSS in a healthcare organization by taking questionnaire-based feedbacks from all stakeholders' viz. distributors of pharmaceutical products, healthcare personnel and patients. LSS, though at present at a premature stage, has high potential for superior value creation and operational efficiency. The study reveals and emphasizes that LSS projects can yield significant benefits such as waste reduction, improvement in operational matters, minimizing errors in technical processes and identifying design of new processes.).

Keywords

• lean management
• lean six sigma
• healthcare
• operational efficiency
• profitability